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THE FRIDAY NIGHT LIGHTS by LOIS BOLIN, Ph.D.,
Old Naples Historian
LEGACY OF SERVICE

Friday Night Lights The Start of Something New

One of the sweetest legacies in our Thirteen years ago, the Walker family and Lois
community and country is Friday night Bolin launched the award and, today, it has
football, which is often a source of pride transformed into the Lehman Legacy’s
and community spirit which brings people Football Service Award, sponsored by Matt
together in a way that few other events Moen of M&M’s Café and Royal Scoop
can. Berkshire; Tim Guerrette, USAF Veteran,
Many high school football teams have a former NHS JV Coach, and CEO of Florida
long history, and the games are a way for Pro Real Estate Academy; and Wayne Smith,
people to connect with their community, USAF Veteran and Hall of Famer from
History, it seems, does not matter in modern often creating that sense of belonging we Eastern High School in Louisville, KY (home
society. Yet, the study of the past is essential all crave and need. Naples High School of the founder of Naples, Walter Haldeman.)
for 'rooting' people in time and that matters football does just that. In addition to having their name on the trophy
because people who feel themselves to be displayed in the Naples field house, they will
rootless live rootless lives, often causing The Lehman Legacy Service Award receive a $2000 scholarship.
damage to themselves and others in the History isn’t just a dusty collection of names
process. (Penelope J. Corfield) Thirteen years ago, an award was created and dates from the past. It’s a mirror reflecting
People who suffer from amnesia are unable to in honor of Rex and Elsie Lehman, who are our city and county’s evolution, a guidebook to
recognize friends or foes and are left to the credited with starting the winning legacy of our present, and a compass pointing to our
mercy of others to provide context and Naples High School Football in 1949. The future. Thanks to the Lehman family for
missing information, which is obviously Award began in 2011 when Jean Walker starting this legacy of Naples High School
shaped by their perceptions or agendas. Humphries (NHS Class of ’61), Lehman’s football; thanks to their family who refused to
Cultural amnesia works in the same manner. It granddaughter, uncovered a let the history be forgotten; and special thanks
is the memory of our individual and collective commemorative football the Quarterback to the legacy leaders, Moen, Guerette, and
histories that gives our world meaning. Club gave to Rex following his tenure as Smith, who have committed to keeping NHS
Over the years, we have seen courses in president. Football legacy alive, making NHS Friday
history stripped away from the curriculum in Night lights look brighter than ever.
public schools as historic buildings and “I wanted to create something to honor
landscapes are being destroyed all in the someone dedicated to service, because
name of progress. Once upon a time, very few that’s what my grandpa did,” Humphries
knew there was/is an historic district in said. “He didn’t play football, but he was
Naples, which runs from 9th Avenue South to responsible for creating the team.”
13th Avenue South to the Gulf of Mexico to Marlys Walker, daughter of Rex and Elsie
Third Street South (just in case you were Lehman, said, “My father wanted to see his
wondering) or thought that Naples didn’t really newborn grandson, Robert Walker Jr., play
have any history. Within those historic district football so he started the Naples football
boundaries were individuals who had a living team in 1949 with just 12 players wearing
history and oh what a history it was.
borrowed jerseys from Ft. Myers High
School. He taught the sport to the students,
and the Golden Eagles took the field for the
first time on Sept. 29, 1950, for a six-man
game against Venice High”.

Unfortunately, a mosquito bite at the age of
10 prevented Robert Jr. from ever playing
football but it did not abate the Lehman's
passion for Naples High School football.
The Lehman Legacy Award winner,
whose name is kept secret until the NHS
Football game halftime, will have their
name revealed on the Legacy trophy at
the Naples field house's Wall of Fame.

18 Tim Guerette with the Lehman Legacy Award